You’ll Be Shocked to Learn How Little the Oscars Are Paying Jimmy Kimmel

Jimmy Kimmel is being unusually frank about his paycheck for hosting the upcoming Academy Awards. The late-night host and first-time Oscar host chatted about his surprisingly low salary in a radio interview (The Kevin & Bean Show on KROQ) on Wednesday, revealing the sum he’ll be paid for the high-profile (and superbly thankless) gig. Ready for this? He'll be making a stunning . . . $15,000. “That is not a joke*,” he added with a laugh.

“You know why? I think it’s illegal to pay nothing,” Kimmel continued, adding that the Academy told him the same amount has been given to past hosts, like Billy Crystal (who has hosted eight times) and Chris Rock. Of course, in the real world, $15,000 for a one-night job is an awesome amount. But in Hollywood, especially considering the months of preparation that go into being an Oscar host, it seems spectacularly low.

“I’m not sure I was supposed to reveal this,” Kimmel said. “Nobody told me not to. I consider this their fault.”

Representatives for Kimmel and the Academy have not yet responded to Vanity Fair’s request for comment.

The Oscars, of course, are the most glamorous night in Hollywood, attracting A-listers from around the world and millions of viewers. The awards show has also become associated with incredibly luxurious gift bags, though the Academy has worked hard to distance itself from these party favors. Earlier this year, the organization even went so far as to sue an outside company Distinctive Assets, which has offered attention-grabbing promotional gift bags to celebrities for years.

When it comes to being an Oscar host, it seems it really is just an honor to be asked. One hears that presidential-inauguration performances used to be the same way.